By Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a Scholarships360 writer who focuses on scholarships and financial aid. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

Updated: July 17th, 2021

Known for its rich musical history in Memphis and Nashville and for the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Tennessee is a great state for college students. Lucky for students, there are many opportunities for Tennessee scholarships as well!

• Top Tennessee Scholarships
• Resources for Tennessee Students
• Summary of Scholarships
• Upcoming Scholarships

Here is our list of the top Tennessee scholarships in 2021:

Top Tennessee scholarships in 2021

Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship

• Eligibility: Female high school seniors pursuing a STEM degree full-time at a Tennessee or other Southern institution
• Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
• Deadline: March 12, 2021

The Community Foundation of Central Tennessee Scholarship Application

• Eligibility: Wide variety of scholarships available for Tennessee students, especially those in central Tennessee
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: March 15, 2021

Christa McAullife Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Rising college junior at a teacher education program in Tennessee with a minimum 3.5 GPA and an above-average SAT or ACT
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 1, 2021

College Pays Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program

• Eligibility: Minority Tennessee undergrad or graduate students who are college juniors and above and are pursuing teacher certification 
• Amount: $5,000 per year
• Deadline: April 15, 2021

Bird Dog Foundation Annual College Scholarship Essay Contest

• Eligibility: Incoming Tennessee freshmen who are members of a bird dog club who submit an essay
• Amount: Up to $2,000
• Deadline: April 15, 2021

Stegall Charitable Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Tennessee residents applying to or attending a Tennessee school full-time with a minimum 2.8 high school GPA or 3.0 college GPA, and demonstrated financial need
• Amount: $500 per semester
• Deadline: July 1 for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester

Tennessee Dependent Children Scholarship Program

• Eligibility: Tennessee residents who are dependent children of a Tennessee first responders who were killed or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: July 15, 2021

Tennessee HOPE Scholarship

• Eligibility: Tennessee high school graduates enrolling at a Tennessee public university who hold a minimum 3.0 GPA and 21 ACT
• Amount: Up to $1,750 per semester
• Deadline: September 1 for fall semester, February 1 for spring semester

Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant

• Eligibility: Students who meet the eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in high-need courses. See site for details
• Amount: Varies
• Deadline: February 1 for spring and summer semesters, September 1 for fall semester

Tennessee Helping Heroes Grant

• Eligibility: US veterans who were honorably discharged or are current or former members of the Tennessee National Guard unit
• Amount: $1,000 per semester
• Deadline: July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester

Tennessee HOPE Access Grant

• Eligibility: Tennessee high school grads attending a Tennessee institution with a GPA between 2.75 – 2.99 and an ACT between 18 – 20 or SAT between 960 – 1050 and financial need
• Amount: Up to $1,250 per semester
• Deadline: September 1, 2021

Resources for Tennessee students

College Pays TN

This is a “one stop shopping” website for Tennessee students, including financial aid and FAFSA information. The website includes resources to assist not only high school, current college students, and adults returning to college, but also for families interested in college planning for their school age children. Bookmark this one!

FAFSA Guide

Remember, the FAFSA opens up in October and the sooner you complete it, the better. The FAFSA deadline in Tennessee is February 1st of each year. If you are looking for step-by-step guidance on the FAFSA, you can check out our FAFSA guide for assistance.

Summary of scholarships

1. Southern Automotive Women’s Forum Scholarship
2. The Community Foundation of Central Tennessee Scholarship Application
3. Christa McAullife Scholarship Program
4. College Pays Tennessee Minority Teaching Fellows Program
5. Bird Dog Foundation Annual College Scholarship Essay Contest
6. Stegall Charitable Foundation Scholarship
7. Tennessee Dependent Children Scholarship Program
8. Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
9. Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant
10. Tennessee Helping Heroes Grant
11. Tennessee HOPE Access Grant

Upcoming scholarships

Tennessee Student Assistance Award

• Eligibility: Tennessee residents enrolled at a Tennessee institution with financial need as determined by the FAFSA
• Amount: Up to $4,000 per year

Regions Riding Forward Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students in eligible states (incl. Tennessee) aged 13 or older who respond to the prompt: “Is there a particular African-American who inspires you?”
• Amount: $3,500 to $5,000
• Opens: February 1, 2021

Tennessee STEP UP

• Eligibility: Tennessee students with intellectual disabilities attending a qualifying post-secondary institution
• Amount: Up to $1,750 per semester

Ned McWherter Scholars Program

• Eligibility: Tennessee residents eligible to attend a Tennessee institution full-time with a minimum 3.5 GPA and 29 or higher on the ACT
• Amount: $6,000 per year

Scarlett Family Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Middle Tennessee graduating high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors majoring in STEM or business with a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Amount: Varies
• Opens: September 15, 2021